Bento Cake Recipe || Top 7 Serving Ideas

The bento cake recipe is a traditional Japanese lunch box meal packed with colorful and nutritious items.

This post will show you how to make a delicious dessert cake-like dessert out of your favorite fruit, nougat, and coconut cream components.

It also includes enough information to be helpful if you’re getting into making the bento. This bento cake recipe is a sweet treat for breakfast or dessert.

Why Is It Called Bento?

If you are from outside Japan, you may have wondered why the name “bento” is given to this lunch box meal. “Bento” literally means box, referring to the traditional lunch box.

In ancient Japan, it refers to a portable food container used for worshipping in Buddhist and Shinto shrines or a picnic basket for hunting and fishing among hunters and fishermen.

In the 20th century, Bentos were used for school lunches by Japanese youth who wanted to save space in their homes.

How To Prepare Bento Cake Recipe?

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Total Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Serving Size: 4 people

Equipment:

• Bento Box,
• 2 Plates,
• 2 Paper Cups,
• 2 Spoons and a Knife

Ingredients for bento cake recipe:

Cake:

• One large banana
• Two medium size bananas
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar or white sugar (for making a sweet nougat)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• One pinch salt
• 6 tbsp cold water (to make the nougat)
• 1/2 cup milk of coconut cream

Toppings:

• Two tablespoons of honey
• Two tablespoons of sugar
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 2 cups of fresh fruit
• 2 tbsp green tea powder (or 1 tsp green tea)
• 1 tbsp of corn malt salt or table salt.

Instructions For Bento Cake Recipe:

For Cake:

Step 1: Set oven to 350˚F/180˚C. Lightly grease a 9″ x7″ baking pan with butter.

Step 2: Peel off the skin of the bananas and mash them using a fork or spoon.

Step 3: Add vanilla extract, honey, and butter to the mashed bananas and stir them together.

Step 4: Add 1 cup brown sugar or white sugar to it, and mix well until combined.

Step 5: Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour and mix them well using a spatula.

Step 6: You need to separate another 1/4 cup of sugar for making the nougat cake.

Step 7: Mix sugar and 1/4 cup flour into a bowl, stirring them well until combined.

Step 8: Add cold water and mix it well until it gets a smooth dough.

Step 9: Put this dough between two pieces of baking paper and roll it out with a rolling pin to 1cm thickness.

Step 10: Put this dough on the baking pan and pour a thin layer of nougat into it.

Step 11: Bake the cake until it gets light brown on top, and let it cool in the oven.

Step 12: When cooled, cut off half of it lengthwise with a knife and set aside. Slice out another 1/4 inch thick piece with a knife.

Step 13: Now wait for the cake to cool down and break up one banana into cubes.

Step 14: Prepare the topping by mixing honey, sugar, coconut, and green tea into a bowl.

Step 15: Put your cake and filling in the bento box.

Step 16: Top the cake with a layer of banana cubes, and pour the green tea mixture over it.

Step 17: Sprinkle with desiccated coconut, and you’re done!

Nutrition Facts Of Bento Cake Recipe

Nutrition	Amount
Calories	603 Kcal
Fat	27g
Carbohydrates	86g
Protein	9g
Fiber	5g

Top 7 Serving Ideas For Bento Cake Recipe

1. Pop the cake into the bento box, then put berries, namul, and kimchi on the side.

2. The nougat mixture can be made and stored in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Ensure you take it from the fridge before using it, as it gets complicated in a cold bento box.

3. Let your kids make their cake with your favorite fruits and flavors. They will love to see how the colorful items are packed into their lunch boxes!

4. You can add variety to the cake by replacing fruits with other seasonal ingredients. For example, replace bananas with apples and add cinnamon for a yummy fall treat.

5. Make it more filling by adding cheese or finely diced ham slices into your fruit layer.

6. You can also serve the cake cold after it’s packed in a bento box from the fridge.

7. If you’re not in the mood for packing a lunch box, prepare a few pieces of this cake and serve it as a dessert with hot tea or coffee.

What Is The Difference Between Bento Cake And Normal Cake?

The significant difference between bento cake and regular cake is that the bento version of this dish has been cut in half and filled with a green tea mixture made with sugar, honey, coconut, and desiccated coconut.

This filling can be used for making the top layer of your cake. You can add any fruit or even substitute some ham slices for protein.

Why Is Bento Cake So Popular?

People usually fill their Bentos with high fiber, low carbohydrate, and healthy ingredients in the traditional Japanese lunch box.

Most bento boxes are filled with vegetables or seafood, such as tofu. You will find some cooked cereal or sweet drinks when you want something sweet.

Traditional lunch boxes still exist in Japan and are very popular as bento boxes nowadays.

Can You Make Bento The Night Before?

Yes, you can make bento the night before. You will find plenty of bento recipes on this site that you can make the night before so that you can pack your lunch box easily in the morning.

How To Decorate Bento Cakes?

Decorating bento cakes is not hard at all! You only need to prepare a few things. Let’s say you have made a nougat layer in your bento box, which is still warm.

You can use frosting or chocolate to make the top part of your cake shine.

Conclusion

Bento cakes are convenient and healthy snacks for anyone on the go or anyone who wants to add more flavorful dishes to their lunches. Not only are bento cakes delicious, but they are also fun to create.

The simplest way to put this dish together is to use a layer of nougat as the base and then add a layer of sliced bananas.

For decoration, you can also use honey or other fruits like raspberries or strawberries.

FAQ